Chippewa County Unified
Honor Guard Team
Agreement
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide officers with guidelines on honor guard ceremonies involving a deputy sheriff or police officer.
POLICY
It will be the policy of the departments to classify funerals to determine what action(s) will be deemed necessary to fulfill the honorable funeral arrangements if requested by the family of the deceased. The Sheriff or Chief, can dictate any procedure or uniform items not listed in this policy. The Sheriff/Chief of police has ultimate responsibility for their individual officers and can add or remove members from the team at anytime. Each agency assumes liability and is responsible for the deputy/officer that serves on the honor team.
DEFINITIONS
Salute: The salute is conducted with the right hand and is a sign of respect and honor. The salute is presented as you sharply raise the right hand – all fingers sharply extended and joined, until the tip of the forefinger touches the brim of the hat above the right eye. If the hat is not worn the forefinger will be raised to the forehead just above the right eye. The palm should be slightly tilted to the left by never facing outward. The arm from the shoulder to the elbow should be extended parallel to the ground and the forearm at an incline of about 45 degrees. The hand and wrist should be straight.
Present Arms: This is a command to salute and is verbalized slowly with “Present (pause) Arms” The command should be given with deep lung air and in a manner of respect and honor. The command to present arms will direct the salute (described above).
Order Arms: This command is given to lower the arm after a salute is presented. The arm should return sharply to the side.
Ceremonial Salute: A ceremonial salute is given in the same manner as above and normally only where dictated or agreed upon by honor guard members. The salute is given for a three-second count upward and then a three-second count back down again and over the badge at the commands indicated above.
Mourning Band: The mourning band shall be worn on the badge from the day of death for a period of 14 days for all Class A funerals, 7 days for all Class B and 1 day for Class C funerals. The mourning badge may also be worn during the week designated as police memorial week in May each year.
Parade Rest: A position assumed at the command of “parade rest” where the officer will keep their left foot in place and widen their stance to shoulder width by moving the right foot. Their hands will simultaneously be placed behind their back and crossing each other. The officer will remain motionless and silent.
Changing of the Guard: A process of respectfully replacing a guard at the casket with another guard.
Officer in Charge/OIC: A deputy or police officer at the discretion of the Sheriff or Chief, who is appointed by the Sheriff/Chief to coordinate activities, train personnel, set up honor guard activities and review/revise the policy.
Motorcade: A procession of squads from Chippewa County Law Enforcement strategically positioned with the funeral hearse and immediate family. One fully marked squad will assume the lead of the procession and the remaining marked squads will fall behind the hearse and immediate family and the Chippewa County Law Enforcement. Subsequent squad cars from visiting agencies will follow the designated procession.
Funeral Classifications:
Class “A” Honor Guard/Funeral – when death occurs while on duty.
Class “B” Honor Guard/Funeral – when death occurs off duty.
Class “C” Honor Guard/Funeral – when death occurs while in retirement.
NOTE: Departmental funerals will not be afforded to an active or retired member of the department whose death was the result of:
· Their knowingly participation in the commission of a criminal act
· Any act or omission contrary to the good order and discipline of this office.
· Any act or omission that would result in disgrace or dishonor to this department and/or its members as determined by the Sheriff/Chief or his designee.
PROCEDURES
Funeral Honors and detail defined:
Class “A” Funeral. Full Honor Guard funeral and evening funeral services for the fallen officer. Casket watch with guards, full dress, and full ceremony with respect to the family. Full motorcade.
Class “B” Funeral. At the discretion of the Sheriff/Chief, Honor Guard casket watch. The Sheriff’s/Chief’s office will informally invite all law enforcement agencies and have honor guard members posted at the funeral during viewing prior to the funeral. Pallbearers as directed by the family members. Additional services and funeral arrangements as dictated by the sheriff or chief .
Class “C” Funeral. At the discretion of the sheriff/chief a uniformed officer will be present at the funeral services and funeral. No formal changing of the guard. One squad will escort the member to the gravesite.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
The emotional nature of a funeral service, particularly when associated with the law enforcement profession, demands the utmost compassion, professionalism and sensitivity on behalf of sheriff’s/chief’s office personnel. Our actions, whether of good intent, may be seen as inappropriate. Honor guard personnel should not laugh or tell jokes while in view of the public and family members. A smile is appropriate while posted as a guard, but not a laugh. The welfare of the bereaved family is of primary concern. While the sheriff’s/chief’s office is interested in assisting these families during this difficult period and can provide many helpful services, we must also recognize the private and personal nature of a funeral service. It is, therefore, important in our desire to help that we do not unwittingly impose our services on the family.
Wearing of the uniform
Honor Guard members appearing at a function with other law enforcement personnel and as formal guards or in a funeral procession will wear long sleeve white shirts beneath the bloused jacket with tie. There will be no accessories or patches on the white shirt . The jacket will have a sewn agency department patch on the left shoulder and an Honor Guard team patch on the right shoulder. The law enforcement shield will have a black mourning band. All accessories will be silver. Collar brass on the bloused jacket will be horizontal to the ground. The pants will be specifically designated for the Honor Guard and they will be blue pants with a gold stripe. Shoes will be shined or of a permanent shine material. The gun belt will consist of only a weapon in a holster and a magazine pouch. The hat will be the police style hat with silver band and hat badge. No gloves are necessary if the function is as a visitor. If serving in a parade function, funeral procession, visitor at a funeral etc., the gold braided chord will be worn on the left shoulder and white gloves. For a funeral function where the Honor Guard Team is doing the casket carrying or casket watch the black braided chord will be worn. All uniforms will be pressed and free of all wrinkles, frays or other discrediting appearances.
EQUIPMENT: The Honor Guard will be uniform in their dress and appearance and equipment. The belt will be leather with holster and magazine pouch only. No additional equipment on the belt. All issued equipment from the Honor Guard Team will remain the property of the Honor Guard Team.
TRANSPORTATION: Honor Guard transportation to event(s) will be as designated by the Sheriff/Chief. Typically, the honor guard will stay in one vehicle as one unit.
USE OF THE HONOR GUARD: The Honor Guard may be used for the following activities:
· Funerals for Law Enforcement office personnel.
· Memorial services relating to law enforcement.
· Other ceremonial events or presentation of colors at specialized events as directed by the Sheriff/Chief
· Response to neighboring agency’s funerals or those directed by the Sheriff/Chief. If invited to attend a funeral for an outside agency, the team will travel together with a minimum of two officers for any event. One of which will be Chippewa Falls Police Department or Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department. The team will act as a guest only and a representative of their respective office. They will not assume the leadership role of their agency.
· Response to a request from outside agencies for assistance and/or honor guard for a fallen officer in the line of duty.
TRAINING: Honor Guard personnel will assemble periodically to review protocol, procedures and practice appropriate movements.
CEREMONIAL PROCEDURES
At the funeral home, the two honor guards shall be assigned to their post at the casket bier (platform for casket) one at the head and one at the foot of the casket, in the “ceremonial at rest” position. If only one honor guard is positioned, post at the head of the casket. The OIC will provide for relief and the posting of the guards at the bier in whatever manner is deemed appropriate for that particular funeral home or church.
The honor guard post at the bier should be maintained until the services or other appropriate ceremonies have been completed. There should not be any changing of the guards during services or ceremonies. This procedure may be altered by the OIC to conform to the general pattern of the ceremony or services.
The changing of the guard at the funeral or during the casket view (wake) will be in a manner prescribed by the OIC. The approach will be done in a professional military-style manner with respect to the family and the fallen comrade.
Upon termination of the religious services or other appropriate ceremonies, the OIC will assign the honor guards and other officers as necessary to form two parallel ranks from the building to the hearse while providing an avenue through which the casket and pallbearers will pass. A variation of this formation may be necessary due to the availability of maneuvering space. Any other available officers will be lined up in formation near the hearse.
As the casket and pallbearers leave the building, the OIC will give the command of “Detail, attention!” This will be followed by the command, “Present arms!” The salute will be held until the casket has been placed aboard the hearse. The “Order Arms” command will then be given at which time the right hand shall be brought smartly to the side from the salute and the position of attention resumed. The detail will then be dismissed from formation to join the funeral procession.
At church, if transported from funeral home, all law enforcement personnel will be lined up appropriately and all department personnel will be formed in a line from the hearse to the church. As the casket is removed, the OIC shall give the command, “Present Arms,” and the salute will be held until the casket has been borne to the front entrance of the church. The team leader will then give the command, “Order Arms!” The detail will then be dismissed for the religious services.
At the cemetery, the honor guards and flag detail will be reformed and marched to the head of the place of internment (perpendicular to the grave). They will remain at attention until the graveside ceremonies are complete and the final salute has been given.
The team leader may assign other officers to form a parallel or single file rank from the hearse to the place of internment (burial site) depending on the availability of sufficient uniformed officers and the distance. If such is the case, as the marching procession begins to escort the casket, the command of “Present Arms” will be given followed by “Order Arms” when the casket reaches the place of internment. The law enforcement officers may then join the graveside ceremonies.
If the procession from the hearse to the place of rest will be a distance to walk, there should be columns of four formed in the following order:
Honor Guard
Sheriff/Chief
Administrative Personnel (Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants)
Retired members of respective agencies